SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The dollar was adrift on Wednesday, with weak U.S. confidence data and concerns about the effect of sweeping tariffs on U.S. growth putting the brakes on a recent bounce.
After briefly crossing below 150 yen, the dollar floated to 150.55 yen in the Asia session, but traders lacked conviction, while a messy week of tariff hits looms.
The euro, which spent a week edging lower from a five-month high, has steadied around $1.0783. Sterling held steady at $1.2931 ahead of British inflation data and a budget update due later in the day.
The euro and Russia’s rouble had little immediate reaction to U.S. deals with Russia and Ukraine to pause attacks at sea and on energy targets, though wheat prices fell as the U.S. said it will push to lift sanctions on Russian agriculture.
That leaves the focus on next week, when U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose – or at least provide details of – a new round of tariffs on autos, chips and pharmaceuticals.
The trade-sensitive Australian dollar hovered just above 63 cents, wavering only slightly when February consumer inflation data came in a bit softer than expected.
It barely responded to Tuesday’s federal budget, which promised tax cuts and extra borrowing to fund relief measures for voters ahead of a May election.
“The major driver of AUD/USD over the next few weeks, and possibly months, will be the new U.S. trade policy and the response from foreign governments,” said Commonwealth Bank of Australia strategist Joe Capurso.
“If market participants are caught flat footed by larger than expected U.S. tariffs and retaliation by other governments next week, AUD/USD can test $0.60 in coming weeks.”
The New Zealand dollar was a tad firmer at $0.5750.
Tariffs and threats of the duties have already driven counterintuitive moves in currency markets as concerns they may drive down U.S. growth have confounded the assumption that the levies should be inflationary and drive up the dollar.
Data released on Tuesday showing U.S. consumer confidence plunged to the lowest level in more than four years in March highlighted how the uncertainty is weighing heavily on households.
For the quarter, the dollar index – which had rallied strongly between September and January – is headed for a roughly 4% drop. It was stalled at 104.32 in the Asia afternoon.
In emerging markets, Turkey’s lira found a footing just below 38 to the dollar after the finance minister and central bank governor told investors they would do whatever was needed to tame market turmoil triggered by the arrest of President Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival.
Indonesia’s currency teetered near a record low as worries over slowing growth and rising government spending shook confidence in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Jamie Freed)
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